Centrifugal gas cleaning device



July 12, 1955 H. A. wlN'n-:RMUTE 2,712,859

CENTRIFUAL GAS CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 30, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l lINVENTOR Harry A. wl/l/,zlnermue ATTORNEY July 12, 1955 H. A.wlNTl-:RMUTE CENTRIFUGL GAS CLEANING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April30, 1952 NIH lill INVENTOR /l/zn fer/77u25@ ATTORNEY July 12, 1955 FiledApril 30, 1952 H. A. WINTERMUTE CENTRIFUGAL GAS CLEANING DEVICE 4Sheets--Sheel 3 gg. zw

INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 12, 1955 H A. WINTERMUTE 2,712,859

CENTRIFUGAL GAS CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 30, 1952 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 4IN VENTOR Harry A. l/l/n ermue BY //MZ 75M ATTORNEY United rates PatentC 2,7r2,ss9

paramount Gas cLEANnsG DEVICE Harry A. Winton-nnte, Plainfield, N. 3.,assigner to I es-:arch Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application April 3i), 1952., Serial No. 285,694

2 Claims. (Ci. 1%3-86) This invention relates to a centrifugal gascleaning apparatus wherein gas bearing suspended material, such as dustand ash particles, ne droplets of liquid or the like, is passed througha tubular member wherein it is given a swirling motion to cause thesuspended material to become concentrated in a layer of the gas adjacentthe inner wall of the tubular member.

The gas layer containing the high concentration of suspended material isseparated from the remainder of the gas stream by a skimming device andthe cleaned gas stream then passes out of the cleaning device. The gasand suspended material that is skimmed off may be subjected to furtherseparatory action if desired.

An object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal gas cleaningapparatus that has no moving parts and is highly efficient in removingsuspended particles from a stream of gas.

Another object is to provide such a device that directs the ow of gastherethrough in a manner to provide maximum separatory forces with aminimum of pressure drop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas cleaning apparatusthat .is simple as to its parts and readily assembled and disassembledfor cleaning and repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device that isreadily adjustable through a wide range of operating conditions.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description of the centrifugal separator of the inventionwhich generally comprises a tubular conduit member providing a gasswirling chamber, the conduit member having an open gas inlet end and anopen gas outlet end, a discharge tube having an open gas inlet end andan open gas outlet end and projecting coaxially into the outlet end ofthe tubular conduit member to provide a restricted annular skimmingorifice between the inlet end of the discharge tube and the outlet endof the tubular conduit member, gas flow restricting means in the tubularconduit member between the inlet end thereof and the inlet end of thedischarge tube defining an annular passage for the flow of gas betweensaid restricting means and the tubular conduit member and a radialpassage for the iiow of gas from said annular passage into the inlet endof the discharge tube, a first set of annularly arranged swirling variesin the annular passage adjacent the gas inlet end of the tubular conduitmember, and at least one further set of annularly arranged swirlingvanes in said annular passage intermediate the iirst set of swirlingvenes and the gas inlet end of the discharge tube.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to theillustrative embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged axial sectional view of one form of gas cleaningunit in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the forward end cleaner shown Fig. l;

of the gas Fatented July 12, 1955 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rearwardend of the gas cleaner shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the plane of the line 4 4 of thecleaner shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged axial sectional view of another form of gascleaning unit of the invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged axial sectional view of still another form of gascleaning unit;

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of a gas cleaningapparatus including a plurality of gas cleaning units of the invention;and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 3-8 of Fig. 7.

VJith reference to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. l through 4,the gas cleaning unit shown comprises two tubular members 12 and 14 eachof uniform diameter throughout its length. Tubular member l2 is the gastreating chamber and tubular member 14 the clean gas collecting Hue anddischarge tube. The discharge tube 14 is positioned coaxially withrespect to the gas treating tube with its inlet end 16 projecting ashort distance inwardly of the gas outlet end 18 of tube 12.

A bracket 2@ formed of a narrow strip of metal is secured to the tubularmembers 12 and 14 by screws 22 and 24 to provide proper centering of thetubes and to give support to the assembly. A plurality, for example,three, of these brackets may be spaced about the periphery of thetubular assembly for added strength.

Extending longitudinally through the center ofthe tube assembly is a tierod 26 having threaded portions 23 and 30 at the forward and rearwardends respectively.

The forward portion of tie rod -6 carries the gas treating assembly 32which generally comprises a headpiece 34, a pair of identical swirlingvane sets 36 and 38, and a gas ow control plug 40.

The headpiece 34, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, has asubstantially square forward end provided with opening 42 through whichbolts may be inserted to secure the gas cleaning units together as to bemore fully described hereinafter. The rearward portion of the headpieceis circular in cross-section and is adapted to slip snugly over theforward end of tube 12. An internal shoulder 4d provides a seat for theperipheral end of the tube 12. The vane sets 36 and 33 include generallyradially extending vanes 46 which are inclined to the axis of the gascleaner to impart a whirling or helical motion to gas that passesbetween the vanes. Both sets of vanes are inclined in the samedirection.

The gas control plug 4t) extends from the vane set 36 rearwardly of vaneset 3S providing a substantially constant area throughout the length ofthe treating chamber which prevents the expansion of the gas beingtreated whereby it would lose a substantial portion of its helicalmotion, while the rearward edge 48 of the plug establishes a point wherethe gas is given a sharp bend prior to its leaving the treating chamber.

A collar 56 is positioned on tie 52 that passes through matching holesin the rod and the collar. The collar 5t? limits the forward movement ofrod 26 when the nut 54 is screwed onto the shaft and against the hub 56of the headpiece.

A tailpiece 58 as more clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, issubstantially square in shape and the outer peripheral edges areprovided with openings 6i) whereby the rearward ends of the cleaningunits may be secured together. A circular opening 62 centrallypositioned in the tailpiece is adapted to slip snugly over the rearwardend of the gas discharge tube. An internal shoulder 64 provides a seatfor the peripheral end of the discharge tube. A threaded hub and spiderunit 66 connects the tailpiece to the threaded portion 30 of tie rod 26.

rod 26 by a drift pin A conical venturi skirt 68 is provided on theoutside of the discharge tube 14 and this skirt ares outwardly towardthe discharge end of tube 12. Between the outer edge of the skirt 68 andthe discharge end of tube 12 is provided a restricted annular orifice70. The skirt 68 is provided with a hub and spider 72, which ispositioned on the rod 26 by a drift pin 74 that passes through matchingholes in the rod and the hub.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the single tie rod26 which extends the length of the gas cleaning unit supports andprovides an adjustable control of the head and tail pieces, the vanesets, gas control plug and the venturi skirt. This arrangement permitsremoval of all of the internal parts of the cleaner by merely unscrewingtie rod 26 from hub 66 and nut i 54, thereby providing easy replacementand cleaning oi the internal parts of the structure.

In operation, gas to be cleaned, for example, boiler flue gases carryingsuspended ily ash, is passed through the tube assembly from left toright as seen in Fig. l under a pressure differential existing betweenthe headpiece of treating tube 12 and the tailpiece of discharge tube14. As the gas passes between the vanes of the first vane set 36, ahelical motion is imparted thereto.

The centrifugal force thereby produced tends to throw the suspendedparticles outwardly toward the inner wall of tube 12 separating ythe gasstream into two homogeneous layers.

As the whirling gas passes through the zone between vane sets 36 and 38,it continues to whirl with onlyy slight reduction in speed as the gas isprevented from expanding any appreciable amount by flow control plug 40which also directs the gas through the second vane set 38.

In passing through the second vane set 38 additional helical motion isimparted thereto. After passing the second vane set the suspendedmaterial is concentrated in a very thin layer adjacent the wall of tube12. Momentum carries a thin layer of gas containing most of thesuspended material through the opening 70. Owing to the restrictednature of opening 70 and the end of ow control plug 40 most of the gasstream is turned inwardly to ow out of the discharge tube 14 as cleangas. This turning movement throws out of the exhaust gases a finalthough small increment of suspended material and provides for a sharpline of separation between the suspended particles and the primary ow ofgas.

Referring to Fig. 5, another form of gas cleaning unit in accordancewith the invention is shown. This unit diiers from that shown in Figs. lto 3 primarily in the manner in which the gas treating assembly isconstructed and supported. Because of the similarity of the units, partsin the unit of Fig. that correspond to parts in the unit of Figs. l to 4are designated by the same reference numerals with prime characters,while like parts have the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 5 Vthe cleaning unit includes the treating tube 12 providing acentrifugal separation zone, the main discharge tube 14, and conicalskirt 68 forming with the tube 12-an annular skimming orifice 70.Extending longitudinally through the center of the tube assembly is thetie rod 26 which supports and ties together the headpiece 34' andtailpiece 58 and positions the venturi skirt, vane sets 36 and 38 andflow control plug 40.

'It is seen that in this form of the invention headpiece 34', vane set33' and ow control plug 40 are constructed as separate members wherebythe individual members may be independently replaced.

v Further with the vane set 38' being constructed as` a unit separatefrom flow control plug 40', the position of thervane set 38 with respectto therventuri skirt 68A and vane set 36 may be readily adjusted forvarying operating conditions since vane set v38'V may be.

l ri) axially positioned along the flow control plug 40.-

Operation of the unit of Fig. 5 is essentially the same as thehercinbefore described operation of the unit of Fig. l.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, another form oi gas cleaning unitin accordance with Vthe invention is shown. Like parts in units of Figs.l to 4 are designated with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 6, the cleaning unit includes the treating tube 12 providing acentrifugal separation zone, the main discharge tube 14, and conicalskirt 68 forming with tube 12 an annular skimming orifice 70.

Extending longitudinally through the center of the tube assembly is atie rod having threaded end portions 82 and 84. The threaded end 84 isadapted to be screwed into the threaded hub and spider 66 of tailpiece58 while threaded position 82 is adapted to receive nut 85 and thusposition the hub of headpiece 86 against collar 88. The collar 88 beingpositioned on tie rod 80 by a drift pin 90 that passes through matchingholes in the rod and the collar.

The headpiece 86 has a substantially square forward end while therearward portion is circular in cross-section and adapted to slip snuglyover the forward end of conduit 12. An internal shoulder 92 provides aseat for the peripheral end of conduit 12 when the hub is positioned onrod 80 and against collar 88.

Between the hub and the outer wall of the headpiece is a vane set 94having generally radially extending vanes 96 which are inclined to theaxis of the gas cleaner to impart a whirling or helical motion to gasthat passes Y between the vanes. An identical vane set 98 havingradially extending vanes 96 and hub 100 is positioned adjacent vane set94 on rod 80 by a drift pin 102 that passes through matching holes inthe rod and the hub.

Also positioned on rod 80 intermediate vane sets 94 and 98 and vane set98 and venturi skirt 68 are identical tlow control members 104 and 106.Each ow control member has a hub portion 108, which is positioned on rod80 by drift pins 110, and ow control vanes 112 extending radiallytherefrom; The vanes 112 prevent undue expansion of the gas beingtreated whereby it would lose a substantial portion of its helicalmotion. The rearward edge 114 of the last vane prior to the venturiskirt 68 establishes a point where the gas is given a sharp bend priorto its leaving the treating conduit.

The operation of the unit of Fig. 6 is essentially the same as thehereinbefore described operation of the unit of Fig. l.

A plurality of gas cleaning units such as have been describedhereinbefore are employed in a gas cleaning apparatus as shown in Figs.7 and 8. Referring to these figures, represents a casing having a gasinlet opening 122 and a gas outlet opening 124.

Gas to be cleaned ows through the apparatus in the i direction of thearrows of Fig. 7. The head and tail pieces are shown at 34 and 58 andthese pieces denne a dust compartment 126 communicating with a dusthopper 128 at the bottom of the casing. The dust hopper has an outlet130. This arrangement of head and tail pieces causes the main stream ofgas to divide and flow through the several gas cleaning units in themanner described hereinbefore.

A small amount of gas together with the dust separated in each unitpasses from the annular dust skimming open- 7 ings 70 of the units intothe dust chamber or compartment 126. The dust falls into hopper 128 fromwhich it is removed through the outlet 130. The dust compartment andhopper may be vented, for example, through the discharge opening 130 ifnecessary to control back pressure on the annular openings 70 of the gascleaning units.

A washing device as shown in Fig. 7 may be included in the apparatus. Aheader pipe 132 runs parallel to each vertical row of cleaning units onthe upstream side thereof. Nozzles 134 direct a spray washing liquidinto the cleaning units. The washing operation may be performed asdesired by opening and closing a main valve 136. Typically the spraynozzles 134 are operated continuously to provide continuous films ofushing liquid along the inner surface of the gas cleaning units. Theliquid lms trap the particles removed from the gas to provide higheiciency of collection. When such a flushing operation is performed,very little gas is required for scavenging purposes as the ushing liquidperforms this operation.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the presentinvention provides a gas cleaning device and apparatus embodying in anunique way the principle of centrifugal separation. In the gas treatingunits shown and described herein, the flow of gas through the units isso directed as to insure maximum eciency of centrifugal action with aminimum of pressure drop. Moreover, the units as hereinbefore pointedout are easily fabricated, assembled and disassembled. The inventionprovides a gas cleaning device that satisfies the aims and objects ofthe invention.

In the light of this disclosure, one skilled in the art will perceivethat a variety of engineering and design changes can be made in the formof the apparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention. Forexample, the venturi skirt shown in the drawings which provides arestricted skimming orifice may be eliminated under certain conditionsas when the annular space between tubes 12 and 14 is suciently small toeliminate the need for the skirt.

This application is a continuation-impart of my application Serial No.255,168 tiled November 7, 1951, now United States Patent 2,667,942.

I claim:

1. A centrifugal gas cleaning device comprising a tubular conduit memberproviding a gas swirling chamber, said conduit member having an open gasinlet end and an open gas outlet end, a discharge tube having an opengas inlet end and open gas outlet end and projecting coaxially into theoutlet end of the tubular conduit member, means providing a restrictedannular skimming orifice between said tubular conduit member and saiddischarge tube, said means providing the restricted orice including aconical venturi skirt on the outside surface of the discharge tubesubstantially within the outlet end of the tubular conduit member, a rodmember extending longitudinally through i lar conduit member between theinlet end thereof and the inlet end of the discharge tube defining anannular passage for the ow of gas through the tubular conduit member anda radial passage for the ow of gas from said annular passage into thegas inlet end of the discharge g tube, a first set of annularly arrangedswirling vanes carmediate the first set of swirling vanes and the gasinlet end of the discharge tube.

2. A centrifugal gas cleaning device as defined in claim l wherein thegas ow restricting means comprises a first disc-like gas restrictingmember positioned in the space between said first and second set ofvanes, and a second disc-like gas restricting member positioned in thespace between said second set of vanes and the inlet end of saiddischarge tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,094,107 Wickersham Apr. 21, 1914 2,010,456 Jones Aug. 6, 19352,188,206 Pfeifer et al Ian. 23, 1940 2,323,707 Danz July 6, 19432,370,629 Appeldoorn Mar. 6, 1945 2,480,243 Hoadley Aug. 30, 19492,506,298 Gritiin May 2, 1950 2,515,894 Polk July 18, 1950 2,569,909Umney Oct. 2, 1951 2,659,451 Baird Nov. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 555,908Great Britain Sept. 13, 1943

